The Rhythm of the Wilderness

News of the miracle spread everywhere. Great crowds gathered to hear Jesus and be healed. The ministry was exploding. The needs were immense. At that very moment, Jesus withdrew. He left the demanding crowd and went into the wilderness to pray.

Jesus refused to let the urgency of the crowd replace intimacy with the Father. He demonstrated a vital rhythm. Pour out for people. Pull away to be with God. Then go back with something worth giving. His strength came from solitude, not the crowd’s applause.

We often live on coffee and stubbornness, believing everything depends on us. We say yes to every demand until we have nothing left to give. But compassion does not mean you never stop. Even Jesus did not do everything. He did what the Father sent Him to do. Where do you need to withdraw from the noise to be with your Father?

“But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.” (Luke 5:15-16)

Prayer: Ask God for the wisdom to recognize when you need to pull away from busyness to pray.

Challenge: Set aside fifteen minutes of complete silence today to be alone and listen for God’s voice.

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 The Word Overrules the Label

For years, people told the leper what he was. They shouted “Unclean!” That word became his identity. Then Jesus spoke a new word. Jesus said, “Be clean.” His command overruled every other label. Immediately, the leprosy departed. The disease that controlled his life released him at Christ’s command.

Jesus did not just heal his skin. Jesus gave him his life back. He could return to his family and his community. He could worship with God’s people again. Grace restores what sin steals. Your past does not have the authority to define you if Jesus has made you clean.

Some people may insist on calling you by your old name. They remember the addiction, the affair, or the anger. But if Jesus has washed you, you do not have to answer to “Unclean.” Hell does not get to overrule heaven’s declaration. What old label are you still allowing to define you?

“And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.” (Luke 5:13-14)

Prayer: Confess the times you have believed the enemy’s labels over your identity in Christ.

Challenge: Underline every promise in 1 Corinthians 6:11 about who you are in Jesus now.

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The Hand That Touches

The crowd backed away from the leper. They saw a threat and reached for stones. But Jesus stepped forward. He saw a man. Jesus reached out His hand and touched him. He did not have to touch him to heal him. A word would have been enough. But Jesus knew the man needed more than clean skin. He needed a human touch.

For years, every person had recoiled from this man. Then he felt the hand of Jesus. It was the hand that formed Adam from dust. It was the hand that holds the universe together. That hand rested on a body that was falling apart. Jesus is not intimidated by our scars or shocked by our past.

You may feel defined by your failures or your pain. You might expect God to keep His distance. But Jesus reaches for the very thing everyone else avoids. He touches broken people. When was the last time you truly let Jesus touch the deepest part of your hurt?

“And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.” (Luke 5:13)

Prayer: Thank Jesus that He is not repelled by your sin or brokenness but actively reaches out to you.

Challenge: Call one person who might feel isolated and offer them a word of encouragement and connection.

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A Man Full of Leprosy

A man forced to shout “Unclean!” walked through the city. People slammed doors and threw stones. His disease had become his entire identity. Nobody asked his name. He was simply a leper. Desperation drove him past the fear and the crowd. He fell face down at the feet of Jesus.

This man worshipped before he was healed. He did not know what Jesus would do. But he knew who Jesus was. His faith was a desperate, honest cry. He placed his condition completely in the hands of the Lord. He trusted Jesus with the outcome.

Many of us hide our brokenness to appear respectable. We grip our chairs while pride whispers about what others might think. We avoid coming to Jesus just as we are. This man’s desperation overruled his dignity. What label are you afraid Jesus might see if you come honestly?

“And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” (Luke 5:12)

Prayer: Ask God to give you the desperate faith to bring your whole self to Jesus, without pretense.

Challenge: Identify one area of your life you have been hiding and write it down on a piece of paper as a act of surrender.

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 Leaving the Greatest Catch

Simon, James, and John brought their boats to land. They walked away from the greatest catch of their lives. From a financial view, the future never looked better. That is precisely when Jesus said, "Follow me." They did not ask for time to sell the fish or the boats. They simply left everything and followed Him.

Once Peter saw who Jesus truly was, the catch was no longer the treasure. Christ was the treasure. Following Jesus always costs us something. We often want to follow Jesus as long as He goes where we want to go. We will obey as long as it is comfortable. But that is not following Jesus. That is asking Jesus to follow us.

You cannot follow Jesus while insisting you choose the direction. If Jesus is Lord, He must lead. What is the "great catch" in your life, the thing you've worked for, that Jesus might be asking you to leave behind in order to follow Him more completely?

“And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.” (Luke 5:11)

Prayer: Ask Jesus for the courage to leave behind whatever He asks, trusting that He is your greatest treasure.

Challenge: Identify one thing you prioritize over following Jesus and take a practical step to put it in its proper place today.

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Day 4: From Fish to Forever People

Jesus did not reveal Simon's sin to leave him in shame. He revealed it so Simon could confess it. He did not bring Simon to his knees to leave him there. He brought him to his knees to raise him into a new life. Simon saw his failures. Jesus saw his future. Jesus said, "From now on you will catch men."

Jesus redeemed Simon's past. He took Simon's fishing experience and gave it eternal purpose. Simon knew how to read water, mend nets, and work with a crew. He knew long nights and empty nets. Jesus used all of it. God can take your ordinary experiences and use them for His glory. That job, that hardship, that lesson learned the hard way…none of it is wasted.

God does not throw your past away. He redeems it. He can use the scar after He heals the wound. Your story is not useless to Him. What experience from your past, whether good or painful, might God want to use now for His purpose and for the good of others?

And Jesus said to Simon, “Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.” (Luke 5:10)

Prayer: Ask God to show you one experience from your past that He can redeem for His glory.

Challenge: Set aside 15 minutes to write down three skills you've learned in life and how they could serve others.

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Day 3: He Knew Every Broken Promise

Simon fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Depart from me." He thought if Jesus really knew him, He would want nothing to do with him. But Jesus already knew everything. He knew Simon's past pride and his future temper. He knew every foolish word Simon would speak. He knew Peter would deny Him three times. And still, Jesus stepped into the boat.

Simon asked Jesus to leave, but Jesus came to stay. Jesus refused to depart. He called Simon closer. That is grace. The devil will try to convince you that you are too dirty or too far gone for Jesus. That is a lie from hell. You may not feel worthy to approach Jesus. You are not worthy. Neither is anyone else.

We do not approach Jesus based on our worthiness. We approach Him based on His grace. He knows every failure and every broken promise. And He still calls your name. He still refuses to leave. What lie has the enemy whispered to you about your past that keeps you from running to Jesus today?

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Prayer: Thank Jesus that He knows everything about you and still loves you and calls you to Himself.

Challenge: Call a trusted Christian friend and share one thing you feel disqualifies you, and ask them to pray for you.

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Day 2: The Tall One in the Deep Hole

Imagine two people at the bottom of a thousand-foot mine. One is six feet tall. The other is four feet tall. The taller one says he is closer to the top. But both are still a thousand feet underground. Nobody at the top is celebrating the tall one. This is what we do when we compare our sin to others. We brag about being the tall one in a deep hole.

The Bible says all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. The question is not if you are better than someone else. The question is if you have perfectly measured up to God's holiness. The answer for every person is no. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot climb out of the hole. This bad news must come before the good news.

The good news is that Jesus came to save sinners. He did not stand at the top and yell instructions. He came down to get us. You do not have to clean yourself up before you come to Jesus. If you could fix yourself, you would not need a Savior. Have you been trying to climb out on your own, instead of letting Jesus lift you out?

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)

Prayer: Confess to Jesus that you cannot save yourself and that you need Him to rescue you.

Challenge: Identify one area where you try to justify yourself, and tell Jesus you need His grace there.

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Kneeling Among the Flopping Fish

Simon Peter stood in a sinking boat. Fish flopped at his feet. Nets strained and tore. Just moments before, these fish represented everything he wanted. They meant success and security after a fruitless night. But now Simon wasn't looking at the catch. He was looking at Christ. The miracle got his attention, but Jesus captured his heart.

When Simon saw the glory of Jesus, he became painfully aware of his own sinfulness. He fell to his knees among the fish. He did not look to see what the other disciples were doing. He simply fell. He called Jesus "Lord" and begged Him to depart. The holiness of Jesus exposed the sinfulness of Simon.

We often feel good about ourselves by comparing our lives to others. We find someone worse and think we are better. But God's standard is not another sinner. His standard is the perfect holiness of Jesus Christ. When you stop comparing your dirt to someone else's dirt and look at the purity of Jesus, what do you say? Do you see your own need for a Savior?
And when Simon saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”(Luke 5:8)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal His holiness to you and to show you your own heart clearly.

Challenge: Write down the name of one person you normally compare yourself to, and then pray for them instead.

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From Empty Nets to Sinking Boats

Simon let down the net. Immediately, fish swarmed into it. The net began to break. The boat began to sink. He signaled his partners for help. They filled both boats with the catch. Human effort had produced nothing. Jesus produced more than they could handle alone.

Jesus displayed His power in the place of Simon’s greatest failure. Your empty net does not intimidate Him. Your weakness does not limit Him. He specializes in turning our shame into a showcase for His grace. His blessing is often too large for us to carry by ourselves.

Your past failure is not the end of your story. Jesus is Lord over that very place. He can fill it beyond your imagination. He will bring others alongside to help you carry the blessing. What empty net are you most ashamed to bring to Jesus?

“And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.” (Luke 5:6-7)

Prayer: Thank Jesus that He is Lord over your areas of failure and can fill them with His abundance.

Challenge: Reach out to one person today and ask for help or offer help, reflecting the partnership of the body of Christ.

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 Nets, Not a Net

Jesus commanded Simon to let down his nets. Simon replied that he would let down the net. This may seem like a small difference. But it reveals a hesitant, partial obedience. Simon was willing to try, but perhaps not fully commit. He was humoring the preacher. Partial obedience is still disobedience.

Jesus did not reject Simon’s small faith. He honored it and used it to reveal His power. His grace meets us in our hesitation. But His full blessing awaits our full obedience. He wants all our nets in the water, not just one.

We often negotiate with God. We offer a little instead of all. We give most instead of everything. We obey later instead of now. Jesus calls for complete surrender. In what area of your life are you practicing partial obedience instead of full surrender?

“Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” (Luke 5:4)

Prayer: Pray for the courage to stop negotiating with God and to fully obey His clear commands.

Challenge: Today, consciously complete one task you have been doing half-heartedly as an act of full obedience to God.

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The Word "Nevertheless"

After teaching, Jesus turned to Simon. He told the tired fisherman to launch into the deep and let down his nets. Simon was the expert. He had fished all night and caught nothing. He explained the reality of his failure to the carpenter from Nazareth. Then he said one word: “Nevertheless.”

Simon acknowledged his empty net and his exhaustion. He did not deny reality. But he chose to obey Jesus’ word over his own experience. His faith was not perfect, but it was real. He acted on the authority of Christ’s command.

You will face moments when God’s direction contradicts your experience. Your own wisdom will say it is pointless. Your fatigue will beg you to quit. Choose to speak that word of faith. What is Jesus asking you to do that your experience says will not work?

“And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.” (Luke 5:5)

Prayer: Ask God for the faith to say “nevertheless” when your experience conflicts with His command.

Challenge: Write down the one thing you feel God is asking you to do but you have been resisting. Underline it and write “nevertheless” beside it.

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 Used Before Filled

Jesus asked to use Simon’s boat while it was still empty. He did not fill it with fish first. He used it as it was. We often want the opposite. We tell God we will serve after He blesses us. We will give when we have more. We will get involved when life settles down. Jesus says, “Let Me use the boat now.”

Faithfulness does not begin when the boat is full. It begins when we place our empty boat in Jesus’ hands. He uses our limitations and weaknesses. He works with our unfinished stories. Our emptiness becomes the setting for His power.

You may feel you have nothing significant to offer. Your boat may feel scratched and weathered by life. Bring that emptiness to Jesus. Trust Him to use it for His glory before He fills it. Where are you waiting for God to fill you before you will obey Him?

“And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.” (Luke 5:3)

Prayer: Confess to God your tendency to wait for fullness before offering Him your emptiness.

Challenge: Set aside ten minutes today to sit in silence and offer God your current situation, however empty it feels.

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The Preacher and the Empty Boat

Jesus stood by the Sea of Galilee. A crowd pressed around Him to hear the word of God. Nearby, Simon Peter washed his empty nets after a fruitless night of fishing. Jesus stepped into Simon’s boat. He asked Simon to push out from the shore. That simple, empty boat became a pulpit. Jesus used what was already there.

Jesus did not need a temple or a stage. He used an ordinary tool of a tired man’s trade. He transformed it into a platform for truth. The water carried His voice to the eager crowd. Jesus often begins with what we already possess. He takes our ordinary things and makes them extraordinary for His purpose.

You have something Jesus can use. It might seem as common as a fishing boat. A skill, a voice, a home, or a story. Stop telling God what you do not have. Surrender what you do have to Him. What ordinary thing are you withholding from Jesus today?

“And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.” (Luke 5:1-3)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to show you one ordinary part of your life you can surrender to Him today.

Challenge: Identify one specific skill or resource you possess and write it down as an offering to God.

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Light in the World

Daniel and his friends ate vegetables and drank water for ten days. At the end of the test, they appeared healthier than all the others. God honored their faithful stand. Daniel continued to serve through multiple kings and empires. His life shone brightly in a dark place because he was anchored to the unchanging God.

Daniel did more than survive Babylon; he influenced it. His life was a light that did not make noise but simply shone. He proved that a life built on God outlasts every earthly kingdom. He was defined not by his culture but by his Creator. His identity was in God alone.

You are sent into your world as a light. You do not need to be the loudest person to have an impact. Your consistent, faithful life can show others the character of Christ. Your anchored identity can point to an unchanging God. How can you let your light shine without drawing attention to yourself?

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” (Matthew 5:14)

Prayer: Ask God to make you a steady light that points others to Jesus through your actions.

Challenge: Perform one act of kindness for someone at school or work without telling anyone else.

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Now God Brought Him

Daniel purposed in his heart to obey. Then God went to work. Scripture says God brought Daniel into favor with the official. Daniel could not control the official's heart, but God could. Daniel was in Babylon, but so was God. God was present in the place of pressure.

God's favor does not mean the absence of trouble. Later, Daniel faced a lions' den for his faithfulness. God's presence does not always prevent the furnace, but He promises to be in it with you. Your obedience is not a business deal with God. You obey because He is God, and He is worthy of your trust.

You can trust God with the results of your obedience. You may not see the outcome, but you can know the One who holds the outcome. Your responsibility is faithfulness; God's responsibility is the results. Where do you need to stop trying to control outcomes and simply trust God?

“Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.” (Daniel 1:9)

Prayer: Thank God that He is already at work in the situations that worry you most.

Challenge: Write down one concern you are trying to manage yourself and consciously release it to God.

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A Request with Meekness

Daniel stood firm in his conviction about the king's food. But he did not stand with arrogance. He respectfully requested permission from the official in charge. He was gracious in his conduct. Daniel was firm in his faith and gentle in his approach. He spoke the truth in love.

Daniel understood that how he stood mattered as much as where he stood. His graciousness made his convictions believable. He showed that you do not have to be rude to be right. His life testified that belonging to God produces both courage and kindness. People remembered how he treated them.

You are called to represent Christ in your speech and conduct. You can disagree without being disrespectful. You can hold convictions without being hateful. Your kindness can make someone curious about your faith. Who needs to see the grace of Christ in your attitude today?

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1 Peter 3:15)

Prayer: Ask God to help you speak His truth with genuine love and respect for others.

Challenge: Intentionally use a respectful tone in a conversation where you disagree with someone.

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The Learning of the Chaldeans

Nebuchadnezzar commanded that the young men learn the language and literature of the Chaldeans. Daniel studied Babylonian science, history, and religion. He was not afraid of education. He engaged his mind with the world's knowledge. But he did not accept the world's godless worldview.

Daniel learned everything but believed only the truth. He filtered all he heard through the Word of God. He judged Babylonian ideas by the Bible, not the Bible by Babylonian ideas. The battle for his life began with the battle for his mind. He renewed his mind with God's truth so he would not be conformed to the world.

Your mind is a battlefield where worldviews clash. You are constantly taught ideas that ignore God. Do not retreat from learning, but engage with discernment. Hold every thought captive to Christ. What specific teaching from culture have you recently accepted without testing it against Scripture?

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)
Prayer: Pray for discernment to recognize worldly thinking and the courage to reject it.

Challenge: Read one chapter of Proverbs today and note a verse that contrasts God's wisdom with the world's.

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Purposed in His Heart

Daniel was taken from his home and placed in the king's palace. He was given a new name and enrolled in a new school. The king offered him the best food and wine. But Daniel had already decided. He purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself. He made his choice before the temptation arrived.

Daniel's internal decision gave him external strength. He did not wait for the pressure to decide what he believed. His convictions were settled in the calm, so they held firm in the storm. This purpose came from knowing he belonged to God, not Babylon.
You will face choices today that test your convictions. The world offers its best to those who compromise. Do not wait for the moment of pressure to decide what you believe. Purpose in your heart now to honor God. What is one line you will not cross for the approval of others?

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” (Daniel 1:8)

Prayer: Ask God to give you a settled heart that chooses obedience before temptation comes.

Challenge: Identify one situation today where you might be pressured to compromise and decide your response now.

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The Must That Drove Him On

Jesus told the crowd He must preach the kingdom of God to other cities. He was sent for this purpose. This divine "must" drove Him beyond comfortable Capernaum. His solitude did not lead to selfishness. It led to renewed mission. He came out of prayer knowing where to go and what to do.

Real encounters with God always send us back toward people. Moses came down the mountain with God’s Word for the people. The early church came out of the prayer meeting proclaiming the Gospel. We possess the message this world needs. It is not advice or a program. It is the good news that brings dead people to life.

We cannot be satisfied because we have been reached. We must care about those who have not. We gather to worship. We withdraw to pray. Then we go out to witness. This is the pattern. What specific person has God placed in your path who needs to hear the good news today?

“And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.” (Luke 4:44)

Prayer: Pray for one person you know who needs to hear the good news of the kingdom.

Challenge: Call or message that person today and tell them you are praying for them.

To listen to the sermon that corresponds with this devotion, click the link: https://www.mbcpb.org/media

  The Rhythm of Axe and Anvil

A young woodcutter challenged an older man to a contest. The young man swung his axe without stopping. He saw the older man sitting down and thought he was winning. But the older man had cut more wood. The young man asked how he did it. The older man replied, “Every time I sat down, I was sharpening my axe.”

This is the rhythm of a faithful life. Jesus poured Himself out in ministry. Then He pulled away to be with the Father. Finally, He pressed on in His mission. Some people serve but never pray. They burn out. Some people pray but never serve. They dry up. Prayer is not wasted time. It is where God sharpens His servants.

You might be the faithful volunteer who hears a call to serve and does three more things. Or you might be the person doing nothing who hopes someone else heard it. God is calling you into His rhythm. Are you in a season where you need to get up and serve or sit down and breathe?

“And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.” (Mark 1:38)

Prayer: Ask God to show you if you are neglecting service or neglecting solitude.

Challenge: Read Psalm 23 and underline every action God does for you.

To listen to the sermon that corresponds with this devotion, click the link: https://www.mbcpb.org/media

 The Solitude That Sends You Out

While Capernaum slept, Jesus rose. He slipped quietly out of the house. He walked beyond the city's noise and found a solitary place. He spent the previous day with people. He began this new day with the Father. He did not withdraw because He stopped loving them. He withdrew because communion with the Father was the source of His power.

This is solitude, not isolation. Isolation pushes people away because you are angry. Solitude draws you near to God so you can love people better. Jesus knew He could not continually pour out without continually drawing near. We try to carry without God what we were designed to carry with Him.

Some of you are physically tired. But you are also soul-tired. Sleep does not fix it. The noise around you is louder than God’s voice within you. You check notifications before you check in with God. If the sinless Son of God needed to pray, what makes us think we can live without it? When will you plan time to be still and know He is God?

“And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place.” (Luke 4:42)

Prayer: Thank God for His invitation to rest and be restored in His presence.

Challenge: Set aside 15 minutes today. Turn off all devices and sit in complete silence.

To listen to the sermon that corresponds with this devotion, click the link: https://www.mbcpb.org/media

 Beyond the Crowd's Applause

The people of Capernaum found Jesus. They tried to restrain Him from leaving. They begged Him to stay. They wanted Him to keep teaching and healing. Their request sounded good and even spiritual. But Jesus knew their voice could not replace the Father’s will. He refused to let the crowd define His calling.

Jesus was governed by His calling, not by comfort or applause. He knew who He was and why He had come. His mission was larger than one town. Not every good opportunity is God’s assignment. A good thing can become a bad distraction if it pulls you from your primary purpose.

The crowd will always have an opinion. They will gladly write your job description if you let them. The urgent will crowd out the important. You will grease many squeaky wheels and accomplish little that truly matters. Are you measuring opportunities by their goodness alone or by God’s specific assignment for you?

“And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.” (Luke 4:43)

Prayer: Confess the times you have let people’s expectations drown out God’s purpose for you.

Challenge: Write down one thing you feel called to do, then say no to one request that distracts from it.


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The Savior Who Never Wearies

Jesus preached in the synagogue with authority. A demon-possessed man screamed. Jesus spoke one sentence and the demon fled. He went to Peter’s house and found a feverish woman. He rebuked the fever and she got up to serve them. A crowd gathered at the door with their sick and hurting. Jesus laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. He served until the work was complete.

Jesus did not come to be served. He came to serve. His heartbeat was to love, help, reach, and save people. He gave His life as a ransom for many. His life moved in the opposite direction of our self-focused culture. He calls us to follow His example of pouring ourselves out.

Many of us know the right words and own several Bibles. We are experts at going to church. But we have never poured our life into another person. God did not save us merely to sit. He saved us for good works. Identify the need He has placed directly in front of you today. Whose life is better because you follow Jesus?

“And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.” (Luke 4:42-43)

Prayer: Ask God to give you His heart to see and serve the people around you.

Challenge: Identify one practical need you can meet for someone today and do it.

To listen to the sermon that corresponds with this devotion, click the link: https://www.mbcpb.org/media

One Touch at a Time

At sunset, the whole city brought their sick to Jesus. The crowd outside Peter’s house was immense. Jesus could have healed everyone with one word. Instead, He laid His hands on every one of them. He touched them individually. He gave His personal attention to each hurting person until the work was done.

Jesus has compassion for individuals, not just crowds. You are not a number to Him. He knows your name and your specific need. He is never too busy or too tired for one more broken person. His love is personal and patient. He willingly gives Himself to everyone who comes to Him.

It is easy to feel lost in the crowd, even at church. You may wonder if God sees your particular pain. This story proves that He does. He wants to meet with you personally. Will you bring your specific need to Him today, believing He has time for you?

“Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.” (Luke 4:40)

Prayer: Thank Jesus that He knows your name and has time for your specific situation.

Challenge: Call one person today and tell them you are praying for a specific need in their life.

To listen to the sermon that corresponds with this devotion, click the link: https://www.mbcpb.org/media